Foldable type cellular telephone

ABSTRACT

A second connecting portion  22  of a second inside portion  2 A is formed with an opening portion  24  extending all the way from an inner peripheral surface of the connecting hole  23  to an outer surface of the connecting portion  22  and towards a second outside portion  2 B. This opening portion  24  is set both in size dimension and configuration such that a fitting portion  32   a  of a hinge pin  32  can be inserted into the connecting hole  23  via the opening portion  24.  The second outside portion  2 B is formed with a shielding portion  25  for shielding the opening portion  24.  The shielding portion  25  is formed with a protruding portion  26  which is brought into the opening portion  24.  A distal end face of the protruding portion  26  is generally in contact with the fitting portion  32   a.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a foldable type cellular telephone in which amain body portion and a turnable portion are turnably connected to eachother through a hinge.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a foldable type cellular telephone has a transmittingportion and a receiving portion (either one of them is the main bodyportion and the other is the turnable portion). The transmitting portionhas a receiving hole formed in one end portion thereof, and thereceiving portion has a connecting hole formed in one end portionthereof. A hinge main body of a hinge is non-turnably inserted in thereceiving hole. One end portion of a hinge pin of the hinge isnon-turnably inserted in the connecting hole. The other end portion ofthe hinge pin is turnably inserted in the hinge main body so that thetransmitting portion and the receiving portion are turnably connected toeach other through the hinge (see Japanese Patent Application UnexaminedPublication No. 2000-110434).

For assembling the conventional foldable type cellular telephone, first,the hinge main body is inserted in the receiving hole. Then, the hingepin is pushed towards the interior side of the hinge main body againstthe biasing force of hinge means disposed within the hinge main body, sothat the hinge pin is entirely embedded in the hinge main body. Afterthe connecting hole of the receiving portion is brought into an opposingrelation to the hinge pin in that state, the hinge pin is moved so as tobe projected from the hinge main body by the biasing means. Then, oneend portion of the hinge pin is inserted into the connecting hole. Bythis, the transmitting portion and the receiving portion are turnablyconnected to each other though the hinge.

However, the conventional foldable type cellular telephone has thefollowing problems. Since the connecting hole must be brought into anopposing relation to the receiving hole while holding the embedded stateof the hinge pin in the hinge main body at the time for connecting thetransmitting portion to the receiving portion, the hinge pin cannot beinserted into the connecting hole easily. Moreover, the hinge main bodybecomes longer to the extent that the hinge pin can be brought into andout of the hinge main body and therefore, the hinge becomes large insize. In addition, since the biasing means must be installed within thehinge main body, the number of component parts is increased to thatextent, the structure becomes complicated and the manufacturing costsare increased.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished in order to solve the aboveproblems. According to the present invention, there is provided afoldable type cellular telephone comprising a main body portion and aturnable portion, one ends of the main body portion and the turnableportion being turnably connected to each other through a hinge such thatthe main body portion and the turnable portion can be turned between afolding position where opposing surfaces of the main body portion andthe turnable portion are folded in such a manner as to be contacted witheach other and a using position where the opposing surfaces are awayfrom each other, at least either one of the main body portion and theturnable portion including an inside portion and an outside portionwhich are formed by being bisected along the opposing surfaces, thehinge including a hinge main body and a hinge pin one end portion ofwhich is turnably connected to the hinge main body and the other endportion of which is projected from the hinge main body, one end portionof the remaining one of the main body portion and the turnable portionbeing formed with a receiving hole for receiving the hinge main bodysuch that the hinge main body cannot be turned, one end portion of theinside portion being formed with a connecting hole into which the otherend portion of the hinge pin projecting from the hinge main body isnon-turnably inserted, wherein the inside portion is formed with anopening portion formed all the way to an inner peripheral surface of theconnecting hole from an outer surface opposing the outside portion sothat the other end portion of the hinge pin can be inserted into theconnecting hole through the opening portion, and a part of the outsideportion corresponding to the opening portion is formed with a shieldingportion for shielding the opening portion.

In this case, it is preferred that the shielding portion is formed witha protruding portion which is extended into the opening portion suchthat a distal end portion of the protruding portion is generally incontact with the hinge pin. It is also preferred that a distal end faceof the protruding portion and an inner peripheral surface of theconnecting hole corresponding to the distal end face are formed with anengaging portion which is engaged with the other end portion of thehinge pin inserted into the connecting hole so as to fixedly positionthe hinge pin. Preferably, the engaging portion is in the form of amountain or a valley.

It is accepted that either one of the main body portion and the turnableportion serves as a transmitting portion and the remaining one serves asa receiving portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line Y—Y of FIG. 3, showing only animportant portion of the above embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line X—X of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, like FIG. 3, showing a second embodiment ofthe present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in the form of one preferredembodiment with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspectiveview of a foldable type cellular telephone T according to the presentinvention. This cellular telephone T includes a receiving portion (mainbody portion) 1, a transmitting portion (turnable portion) 2, and twohinges 3, 3 through which one ends of both the receiving portion 1 andtransmitting portion 2 are turnably connected to each other. Thereceiving portion 1 and the transmitting portion 2 are turnablyconnected to each other about an axis L of the hinge 3 such that theportions 1, 2 can turning move between a folding position where theirfront faces (opposing faces) are abutted with each other as indicated byimaginary lines of FIG. 3 and a using position (away about 130 degreesfrom the folding position in a circumferential direction in thisembodiment) as indicated by solid lines of FIG. 3.

The receiving portion 1 includes a first inside portion 1A whose frontface is abutted with the transmitting portion 2 when the receivingportion 1 is turningly moved to the folding position, and a firstoutside portion 1B fixed to a back face (the face facing the oppositeside of the transmitting portion 2 side) of the first inside portion 1Aby fixing means (not shown) such as a screw. The first inside portion 1Ais provided at its front face portion with a liquid crystal displayportion 11. The first outside portion 1B is provided with an integralcircuit (not shown), etc.

The transmitting portion 2 includes a second inside portion (insideportion) whose front face is abutted with the receiving portion 1 in thefolding position, and a second outside portion (outside portion) 2Bfixed to its back face portion by fixing means (not shown) such as ascrew. The second inside portion 2A is provided at its front faceportion with push buttons 21 for inputting numerical figures,characters, symbols, and other control members (not shown). The secondoutside portion 1B is provided with an integral circuit (not shown),etc.

The first inside portion 1A has a first connecting portion 12 of acircular configuration in section formed on its first end portion (theend portion on the transmitting portion 2 side). The length of the firstconnecting portion 12 is shorter than the width of the first insideportion 1A. The first connecting portion 12 is arranged at a centralportion in a width direction of the first inside portion 1A. Moreover,the first connecting portion 12 is arranged such that its axis is inalignment with the axis L of the hinge 3. The first connecting portion12 has receiving holes 13 formed in its opposite end faces and extendingon the axis L. Although the receiving hole 13 is circular in section inthis embodiment, the configuration of the hole 13 is not limited tothis. It may be of any suitable non circular configuration in sectionsuch as, for example, square in section. A key portion 13 a is formed onan inner peripheral surface of the receiving hole 13. Instead of thiskey portion 13 a, a key groove may be formed. In the case where thereceiving hole 13 is formed in a non-circular configuration in section,there is no need of a provision of the key portion 13 a nor the keygroove.

The second inside portion 2A has two connecting portions 22 of acircular configuration in section formed on its one end portion (the endportion on the receiving portion 1 side). The second connecting portions22, 22 are arranged at opposite end portion in a width direction of thesecond inside portion 2A with each of their axes aligned with the axisL. An interval between the two second connecting portions 22, 22 isgenerally equal to the length of the first connecting portion 12. Thefirst connecting portion 12 is inserted between the second connectingportions 22, 22. A connecting hole 23 extending on the axis L is formedin an opposing surface of the second connecting portion 22 with respectto the first connecting portion 12. Although the connecting hole 23 isformed in a rectangular configuration in section in this embodiment, itmay be of any other non-circular configuration in section.

The hinge 3 for turnably connecting the receiving portion 1 and thetransmitting portion 2 together includes a hinge main body 31 and ahinge pin 32. The hinge main body 31 is formed in a circularconfiguration in section and engaged with the receiving hole 13.Moreover, the key portion 13 a is brought into engagement with a keygroove 31 a formed in an outer peripheral surface of the hinge main body31. By this, the hinge main body 31 is non-turnably engaged with thereceiving hole 13. Of course, in the case where the receiving hole 13and the hinge main body 31 are formed in a non-circular configuration insection, there is no need of a provision of the key portion 13 a nor thekey groove 31 a.

On the other hand, the hinge pin 32 is arranged such that its axis is inalignment with the axis L. One end portion of the hinge pin 32 isturnably inserted in the hinge main body 31. The other end portion ofthe hinge pin 32 is projected outside from the hinge main body 31 andhas a fitting portion 32 a formed thereon. This fitting portion 32 a hasa generally identical configuration in section with the connecting hole23 and is non-turnably fitted to the connecting hole 23. By this, thereceiving portion 1 and the transmitting portion 2 are turnablyconnected to each other through the hinges 3, 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, an opening portion 24 is formed in the secondconnecting portion 22. This opening portion 24 extends towards thesecond outside portion 2B side from the inner peripheral surface of theconnecting hole 23 and reaches the outer surface of the secondconnecting portion 22. Moreover, the opening portion 24 has a length anda width generally equal to those of the connecting hole 23. Accordingly,the opening portion 24 allows the fitting portion 32 a of the hinge pin32 to pass therethrough in a direction orthogonal to the axis L. Thefitting portion 32 a can be inserted into the connecting hole 23 via theopening portion 24.

The second outside portion has a shielding portion 25 formed on itsportion opposing the second connecting portion 22. This shieldingportion 25 is adapted to shield the opening portion 24 so that theopening portion 24 cannot be seen visually from outside. The shieldingportion 25 has a protruding portion 26 formed in its opposing surfacewith respect to the opening portion 24. The protruding portion 26 isengageable with the opening portion 24. The protruding portion 26 is setin height such that its distal end face is generally contacted with thefitting portion 32 a of the hinge pin 32.

In the foldable type cellular telephone T thus constructed, in the casewhere the receiving portion 1 and the transmitting portion 2 areconnected to each other through the hinge 3, the second inside portion2A and the second outside portion 2B are separated from each otherbeforehand. The first inside portion 1A and the first outside portion 1Bmay be fixed to each other beforehand, or they may be fixed afterconnection between the receiving portion 1 and the transmitting portion2. Then, the hinge main body 31 of each hinge 3 is inserted into thereceiving hole 13. Thereafter, the attitudes and positions of thereceiving portion 1 and the first inside portion 1A are adjusted suchthat the fitting portion 32 a of the hinge pin 32 is moved in adirection orthogonal to the axis L so as to be inserted into the openingportion 24. In this embodiment, in the case where an angle formedbetween the receiving portion 1 and the second inside portion 2A is madegenerally equal to an angle likewise formed therebetween in the usingposition, the fitting portion 32 a can be inserted into the openingportion 24. It is, of course, accepted that the fitting portion 32 a canbe inserted into the opening portion 24 at any other angle than theabove-mentioned angle. Subsequently, the fitting portion 32 a isinserted into the opening portion 24 and then further inserted into theconnecting hole 23 from the opening portion 24. Thereafter, the secondoutside portion 2B is fixed to the back face of the second insideportion 2A. Then, the shielding portion 25 shields the opening portion24 so that the opening portion 24 cannot be seen visually from outside.Moreover, the protruding portion 26 is brought into the opening portion24 and generally contacted with the fitting portion 32 a. By this, thefitting portion 32 a is prohibited from moving in a direction forconnecting the connecting hole 23 and the opening portion 24 togetherand hence, the receiving portion 1 and the transmitting portion 2 areprohibited from playing in the same direction.

As seen in the foregoing, according to this foldable type cellulartelephone T, at the time for bringing the fitting portion 32 a of thehinge pin 32 into the connecting hole 23, the fitting portion 32 a ofthe hinge pin 32 can be inserted into the connecting hole 23 from theopening portion 24 merely by moving the hinge pin 32 in the directionorthogonal to the axis L. Accordingly, it is no more required to makethe hinge pin 32 embedded in the hinge main body 31. Thus, the fittingportion 32 a of the hinge pin 32 can easily be inserted into theconnecting hole 23. Since the hinge pin 32 is no more required to beembedded in the hinge main body 31, the length of the hinge main body 31can be reduced to that extent and therefore, the entire hinge 3 can bemade smaller in size. Moreover, since no biasing means for biasing thehinge pin 32 in a direction protruding from the hinge main body 31 isrequired, the number of component parts can be reduced to that extentand the hinge structure can be simplified. Moreover, its manufacturingcost can be reduced. The transmitting portion 2 is bisected into asecond inside portion and a second outside portion even in theconventional cellular telephones. Accordingly, the present invention caneasily be applied to those conventional cellular telephones only with asmall design change in which the opening portion 24 and the protrudingportion 26 are formed.

A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described withreference to FIG. 4. In this second embodiment, a side portion of theengaging portion 24 facing an opening portion 24 and another sideportion opposing thereto are formed with mountain portions (engagingportions) 32 b, 32 b composed of two inclination surfaces. The mountainportions 32 b, 32 b are formed such that a line connecting their apexestogether is orthogonal to an axis L. The mountain portions 32 b, 32 bare laterally symmetrically arranged with respect to the line and pointsymmetrically arranged with respect to the axis L. The side portion ofthe connecting hole 23 opposing one of the mountain portions 32 b isformed with a valley portion (engaging portion) 23 a of a configurationidentical with the mountain portion 32 b. A distal end face of aprotruding portion 26 opposing the other mountain portion 32 b is alsoformed with a valley portion (engaging portion) of a configurationidentical with the mountain portion 32 b. When the protruding portion 26is brought into engagement with the opening portion 24 after the fittingportion 32 a is inserted into the connecting hole 23, the valleyportions 23 a, 26 a sandwichingly hold the mountain portions 32 b, 32 b.As a result, the valley portions 23 a, 26 a are engaged with themountain portions 32 b, 32 b, respectively, the fitting portion 32 a isunmovably restrained with respect to a direction for connecting themountain portions 32 b, 32 b and a direction orthogonal to the directionfor connecting the mountain portions 32 b, 32 b and received in theconnecting hole 23 with no play. Any other configuration of the mountainportion 32 b and the valley portions 23 a, 26 a is accepted as long asthe protruding portion 26 can be received in the connecting hole 23 withno play when the mountain portions 32 b, 32 b and the valley portions 23a, 26 a are engaged with each other. It is also accepted that a valleyportion (engaging portion) is formed on the fitting portion 32 a, andthe mountain portion (engaging portion) is formed on the connecting hole23 and the protruding portion 26.

It should be noted that the present invention is, by no means, limitedto the above embodiments, and many changes and modifications can be madein accordance with necessity.

For example, although the receiving portion 1 serves as a main bodyportion and the transmitting portion 2 serves as a turnable portion inthe above embodiments, the reverse arrangement is also accepted in whichthe receiving portion 1 serves as a turnable portion and thetransmitting portion 2 serves as a main body portion.

Similarly, although the receiving hole 13 is formed in the receivingportion 1 and the connecting hole 23 is formed in the transmittingportion 2, it is also accepted that the connecting hole 23 is formed inthe receiving portion 1 and the receiving hole 13 is formed in thetransmitting portion 2. The receiving portion 1 with the receiving hole13 is not necessarily bisected into the inside portion 1A and theoutside portion 1B. Accordingly, in the case where the receiving hole 13is formed in the transmitting portion 2, the transmitting portion 2 isnot required to be bisected into the inside portion 2A and the outsideportion 2B. Instead, they may be integrally formed as a whole.

Moreover, with respect to play of the receiving portion 1 and thetransmitting portion 2 in the direction for connecting the connectinghole 23 and the opening portion 24 together, they are not necessarilyrequired to be restrained by the protruding portion 26. Instead, theplay of the receiving portion 1 and the transmitting portion 2 in thedirection for connecting the hole 23 and the portion 24 may berestrained by any other suitable member. In that case, there is no needof a provision of the protruding portion 26.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, the transmitting portion and thereceiving portion can easily be connected to each other in a foldabletype cellular telephone in which the transmitting portion and thereceiving portion are turnably connected through a hinge.

1. A foldable type cellular telephone comprising a main body portion anda turnable portion, one end of said main body portion being connected tothe opposing end of said turnable portion through a hinge such that saidmain body portion and said turnable portion can be turned between afolding position and a using position, in said folding position, saidmain body portion and said turnable portion being folded such thatopposing surfaces of said main body portion and said turnable portion iscontacted with each other, in said using position, said opposingsurfaces being away from each other, at least selected one of said mainbody portion and said turnable portion including an inside portion andan outside portion which are connected with each other along saidopposing surfaces, said hinge including a hinge main body and a hingepin, one end portion of said hinge pin being turnably connected to saidhinge main body, the other end portion of said hinge pin being projectedfrom said hinge main body, one end portion of the remaining one of saidmain body portion and said turnable portion being formed with areceiving hole for receiving said hinge main body such that said hingemain body cannot be turned, one end portion of said inside portion beingformed with a connecting hole into which the other end portion of saidhinge pin projecting from said hinge main body is non-turnably inserted,wherein said inside portion is formed with an opening portion extendingfrom an inner peripheral surface of said connecting hole in a radialdirection of said connecting hole to an outer surface opposing saidoutside portion so that in a state that one end portion of said hingepin is connected to said hinge main body which is received in saidreceiving hole, the other end portion of said hinge pin can be insertedinto said connecting hole in the radial direction of said connectionhole through said opening portion, and a part of said outside portioncorresponding to said opening portion is formed with a shielding portionfor shielding said opening portion.
 2. A foldable type cellulartelephone according to claim 1, wherein said shielding portion is formedwith a protruding portion which is extended into said opening portionsuch that a distal end portion of said protruding portion is generallyin contact with an outer peripheral surface of the other end portion ofsaid hinge pin.
 3. A foldable type cellular telephone according to claim2, wherein a distal end face of said protruding portion and an innerperipheral surface of said connecting hole corresponding to said distalend face are formed with an engaging portion which is engaged with anouter peripheral surface of the other end portion of said hinge pininserted into said connecting hole so as to fixedly position said hingepin.
 4. A foldable type cellular telephone according to claim 3, whereinsaid engaging portion is in the form of a mountain or a valley.
 5. Afoldable type cellular telephone according to claim 1, wherein eitherone of said main body portion and said turnable portion serves as atransmitting portion and the remaining on serves as a receiving portion.6. A foldable type cellular telephone according to claim 2, whereineither one of said main body portion and said turnable portion serves asa transmitting portion and the remaining on serves as a receivingportion.
 7. A foldable type cellular telephone according to claim 3,wherein either one of said main body portion and said turnable portionserves as a transmitting portion and the remaining on serves as areceiving portion.
 8. A foldable type cellular telephone according toclaim 4, wherein either one of said main body portion and said turnableportion serves as a transmitting portion and the remaining on serves asa receiving portion.